His Holiness '''Vicentius (Prodanov)''', (in Serbian: '''Викентије (Проданов)''' - '''Vikentije (Prodanov)'''), was Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovac and Patriarch of Serbia of the [[Church of Serbia|Serbian Orthodox Church]] from 1950 to 1958.

== Early life ==

== Early life ==

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Bitomir Prodanov was born into the family George (Ђорђе) and Jelka (Јелка) Prodanov, on [[August 24]], 1890, in the village of Backo Petrovo Selo in then the Austria-Hungary Empire. In 1901, he completed his primary education in Backo Petrovo Selo. Bitomir and then entered the Grand Serbian Orthodox Gymnasium in Novi Sad from which he graduated in 1909. He continued his higher education in the Serbian Orthodox Theology School in Sremski Karlovci, graduating in 1913. He then returned for a several months to Backo Petrovo Selo as a teacher. On [[June 1]], 1917, Bishop Georgije (Letić) of Temišvar appointed him consistorial subnotary for the [[Diocese]] of Temišvar .

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He was born as Vitomir (Bитомир) into the family Đorđe(Ђорђе) and Jelka (Јелка), [[August 24]]

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On [[August 18]], 1917, Bitomir took [[monasticism|monastic]] vows in Bezdin Monastery before [[Archimandrite]] Issac (Došen) and was given the name Vicentius. He was [[ordination|ordain]]ed a [[deacon]] on [[September 12]] by Bp. Georgije. In 1919, Dn. Vicentius was transferred to the post of consistorial notary of the Diocese of Bačka. He was raised to the dignity of [[protodeacon]] and then [[archdeacon]]. From 1921 to 1932 he served as secretary of the executive board of [[monastery|monasteries]] in Karlovci Metropolitanate. During this time he continued his education at the Philosophical Faculty in Belgrade studying National and Byzantine History. He graduated in 1929. On [[October 31]], 1929, Dn. Vicentius was ordained a hieromonk and, then on [[December 3]], he was raised to the rank of archimandrite.

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[[1890]], in Bačko Petrovo Selo. He finished primary school in his birthplace 1901. He graduated Grand Serbian Orthodox Gimnasium in Novi Sad 1909. He continued his education in Serbian Orthodox Theology School in Sremski Karlovci. He graduated 1913. He was teacher in his birthplace couple months. Bishop of Temišvar Georgije (Letić) apointed him as consistorial subnaotarius of Diocese of Temišvar [[June 1]], [[1917]]. He took monastic vows in Bezdin Monastery [[August 18]](([[August 5,]]Old Style))in front of [[Archimandrite]] Isak (Došen).He is ordain deacon [[September 12]], by Bishop Georgije. He is transfered to post of consistorial notarius of Diocese of Bačka 1919. He was raised to ranks of protodeacon and archideacon.From 1921- 1932 he was secretary of Executive Board of monasteries in Karlovci Metropolitenate.He continued his education at Philosophical Faculty in Belgrade and graduated 1929 on group for National and Byzantine History.He is ordain hieromonk October 18/31, 1929 and raised to rank of arcimandrite November 20/December 3. He is elected as Secretary General of Sentence Synod of Serbian Orthodox Church 1932. He remained this dutz until he is elested for Vicarius bishop of Marča, June 21/July 4. He is ordain by Patriarch Varnava and bishops Irinej of Bačka, Serafim of Raška and Prizren, Sava of Srem and [[Platon of Banja Luka|Platon]] of Moravice.

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In 1932, Archim. Vicentius was elected Secretary General of the Sentence [[Synod]] of the Serbian Orthodox Church. He remained in this position for only a short time before he was elected [[vicar]] [[bishop]] of Marča, on [[July 4]], 1932. He was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] by Patriarch Varnava, assisted by Bps. Irinej of Bačka, Serafim of Raška and Prizren, Sava of Srem, and [[Platon of Banja Luka|Platon]] of Moravice.

== As Bishop ==

== As Bishop ==

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He remained vicarius bishop until 1939. He was elected Bishop of Zletovo and Strumica. He also was given administration of Diocese of Ohrid and Bitola 1940. He was exiled from Zletovo from Bulgarian faschists. After war comunist regime didn't alowed him to return. Comunist wanted to creat uncanonical Macedonian Orthodox Church. He was administrator of Diocese of Žiča 1947-1951 by wish of St. Nikolaj and of Diocese of Srem 1947-1951.

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Bp. Vicentius remained a vicar until 1939 when he was elected Bishop of Zletovo and Strumica. In 1940, he was also assigned as administrator of the Diocese of Ohrid and Bitola. After the Germans and Bulgarians occupied the diocese in 1941, he was exiled from Zletovo by Bulgarian fascists. After World War II, the Communist regime did not allow him to return from exile as the Communists wanted to create a Macedonian Orthodox Church separate from the Church of Serbia. From 1947 to 1950, Bp. Vicentius was administrator of Diocese of Žiča, during the absence of St. [[Nikolai Velimirovic|Nikolai]] and the Diocese of Srem.

== As Patriarch ==

== As Patriarch ==

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Bishop Vikentije was elected Patriarch of Serbia July 1/14, 1950. He visited several other national churches in order to strenght ties weakened during the war. He put enormous energy trying to resolve problem of Pension Security fonds for priests. Patriarch Vikentije didnćt want to aprove foundation of so called Macedonian Church. He was eminent historian and member of Society of Historians of Vojvodina. He was editor-in-cheef of their gazzete.

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Bp. Vicentius was elected Patriarch of Serbia on [[July 14]], 1950. He visited several other local churches in order to strengthen ties that had been weakened during the war. He placed enormous energy into trying to resolve the problem of Pension Security funds for [[priest]]s of the patriarchate. Patr. Vicentius was strongly opposed to the splitting of the Serbian church and the creation of a Macedonian Church. He was a historian and a member of the Society of Historians of Vojvodina. He also was editor-in-chief of its gazette.

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He died under misterious circumstences, after session of Holy assembly of Bishops. Holy Assembly rejected sugestions of regime to aprove fondation of Macedonian church. However his death seamed not to be natoral.

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He died July 5, 1958.His remains are buried in tomb of Metropoliten Mihajlo in Cathedral Church of Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Beograd

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Patr. Vicentius died on [[July 5]], 1958 under mysterious circumstances after a session of the holy assembly of bishops at which the assembly rejected suggestions from the communist regime to approve the establishment of a Macedonian church. He was buried in the tomb of Metr. Mihajlo in the [[Cathedral]] Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Belgrade.

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{{succession|

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before= ?|

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before=?|

title=Bishop of Marča - Vicar|

title=Bishop of Marča - Vicar|

years=1936-1939|

years=1936-1939|

after=?}}

after=?}}

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before= ?|

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before= Simeon (Stanković)|

title=Bishop of Zletovo and Strumica|

title=Bishop of Zletovo and Strumica|

years=1939-1950|

years=1939-1950|

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after= none}}

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after=&mdash;}}

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{{succession|

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before=[[Gavrilo V Dozic-Medenica of Serbia|Gavrilo]]|

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before=[[Gabriel (Dozic) of Serbia|Gavrilo]]|

title=[[List of Patriarchs of Serbia|Patriarch of Serbia]]|

title=[[List of Patriarchs of Serbia|Patriarch of Serbia]]|

years=1950-1958|

years=1950-1958|

after=[[German (Đorić) of Serbia|German]]}}

after=[[German (Đorić) of Serbia|German]]}}

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[[Category:Bishops]]

[[Category:Bishops]]

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[[Category:Bishops of Marča]]

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[[Category:Bishops of Zletovo]]

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[[Category:Bishops of Belgrade]]

[[Category:Patriarchs of Serbia]]

[[Category:Patriarchs of Serbia]]

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[[Category:20th-century bishops]]

Latest revision as of 12:58, February 26, 2012

His Holiness Vicentius (Prodanov), (in Serbian: Викентије (Проданов) - Vikentije (Prodanov)), was Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovac and Patriarch of Serbia of the Serbian Orthodox Church from 1950 to 1958.

Early life

Bitomir Prodanov was born into the family George (Ђорђе) and Jelka (Јелка) Prodanov, on August 24, 1890, in the village of Backo Petrovo Selo in then the Austria-Hungary Empire. In 1901, he completed his primary education in Backo Petrovo Selo. Bitomir and then entered the Grand Serbian Orthodox Gymnasium in Novi Sad from which he graduated in 1909. He continued his higher education in the Serbian Orthodox Theology School in Sremski Karlovci, graduating in 1913. He then returned for a several months to Backo Petrovo Selo as a teacher. On June 1, 1917, Bishop Georgije (Letić) of Temišvar appointed him consistorial subnotary for the Diocese of Temišvar .

On August 18, 1917, Bitomir took monastic vows in Bezdin Monastery before Archimandrite Issac (Došen) and was given the name Vicentius. He was ordained a deacon on September 12 by Bp. Georgije. In 1919, Dn. Vicentius was transferred to the post of consistorial notary of the Diocese of Bačka. He was raised to the dignity of protodeacon and then archdeacon. From 1921 to 1932 he served as secretary of the executive board of monasteries in Karlovci Metropolitanate. During this time he continued his education at the Philosophical Faculty in Belgrade studying National and Byzantine History. He graduated in 1929. On October 31, 1929, Dn. Vicentius was ordained a hieromonk and, then on December 3, he was raised to the rank of archimandrite.

In 1932, Archim. Vicentius was elected Secretary General of the Sentence Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church. He remained in this position for only a short time before he was elected vicarbishop of Marča, on July 4, 1932. He was consecrated by Patriarch Varnava, assisted by Bps. Irinej of Bačka, Serafim of Raška and Prizren, Sava of Srem, and Platon of Moravice.

As Bishop

Bp. Vicentius remained a vicar until 1939 when he was elected Bishop of Zletovo and Strumica. In 1940, he was also assigned as administrator of the Diocese of Ohrid and Bitola. After the Germans and Bulgarians occupied the diocese in 1941, he was exiled from Zletovo by Bulgarian fascists. After World War II, the Communist regime did not allow him to return from exile as the Communists wanted to create a Macedonian Orthodox Church separate from the Church of Serbia. From 1947 to 1950, Bp. Vicentius was administrator of Diocese of Žiča, during the absence of St. Nikolai and the Diocese of Srem.

As Patriarch

Bp. Vicentius was elected Patriarch of Serbia on July 14, 1950. He visited several other local churches in order to strengthen ties that had been weakened during the war. He placed enormous energy into trying to resolve the problem of Pension Security funds for priests of the patriarchate. Patr. Vicentius was strongly opposed to the splitting of the Serbian church and the creation of a Macedonian Church. He was a historian and a member of the Society of Historians of Vojvodina. He also was editor-in-chief of its gazette.

Patr. Vicentius died on July 5, 1958 under mysterious circumstances after a session of the holy assembly of bishops at which the assembly rejected suggestions from the communist regime to approve the establishment of a Macedonian church. He was buried in the tomb of Metr. Mihajlo in the Cathedral Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Belgrade.